BONGANI MALUNGA
Botswana Premier League champions Gaborone United will face Democratic Republic of Congo club AS Vita in the preliminary (first) round of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League. The clubs will lock horns for a place in the second round of the competition which will be the last round before the lucrative group stage.
GU will take on AS Vita on the weekend of 9-11 September (first leg) while the second leg will take place on the weekend of 16-18 September. The winner of the GU and AS Vita tie will take on RC Kadiogo or Asante Kotoko in the second round.
Moyagoleele will be aiming to become only the third Botswana club to reach the CAF Champions League group stage, they will be aiming to emulate Township Rollers and Jwaneng Galaxy.
More than a decade away
The Reds will make their return to the CAF Champions League after 13 years away from the competition. They made a lasting impression in the competition as they grabbed the headlines by eliminating Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in the preliminary round in 2009.
GU proceeded to the first round after eliminating Pirates, they eliminated Curepipe Starlight of Morocco in the first round with an emphatic 6-0 aggregate win. GU’s 2009 run was ended by Zimbabwean club Dynamos FC in the second round.
The club will be hoping to get over the second round hurdle this time around as they have continued to strengthen their team. The addition of Mothusi Cooper will make the club a much more formidable team as the experienced midfielder has gained valuable experience in Zambia and Morocco in recent years.